Mini-hydel proposal near Pushpagiri in Karnataka’s Kodagu dist. kindles concern over Western Ghats conservation

A proposal has surfaced for the construction of a mini-hydel project across the Kumaradhara river in Kodagu district at a time when the conservation of Western Ghats should be a policy priority.

The proposal in question is for the Sri Shantamallikarjuna Mini Hydel Project across the Kumaradhara in Kodagu, which seeks the diversion of 2.8 hectares of forestland in Kumarahalli village of Somwarpet taluk.

This has been proposed by M/s Poorna Pragna Infrastructure of Hassan district and is pending before the Deputy Conservator of Forests, Madikeri Division, for examination and recommendation.

However, conservationists have expressed concern drawing attention to ecological issues and the degradation of the Western Ghat ecosystem under the guise of mini and micro hydel systems.

Wildlife conservationist Giridhar Kulkarni has appealed to the Forest Department to deny permission for the project on grounds that the site was close to the Pushpagiri Wildlife Sanctuary — an important elephant habitat and home to several species listed under Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972.

Mr. Kulkarni said that the project area reportedly falls within the sanctuary’s Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ) notified in June 2017 and lies barely 2.5 km from its boundary.

“The region is already facing severe habitat fragmentation due to multiple infrastructure projects, unregulated tourism, and mini-hydel projects, and the new proposal, if approved, will further add to anthropogenic pressure and have a negative impact on the elephant corridor,” said Mr. Kulkarni. While it will threaten the survival of key species, it will also aggravate human-elephant conflict in the region, he cautioned.

Underlining the importance of conserving the project area, Mr. Kulkarni said failure to do so will also result in the degradation of the riverine ecosystem. The attention of the authorities was also drawn to recurring incidents of landslides in the region due to habitat degradation and measures to stop further deterioration of the ecosystem were sought.

The representation made to the Forest Department on October 28, 2025, also sought to remind the authorities of the State government affidavit filed before the Karnataka High Court in Writ Petition No. 9333/2009, wherein it undertook not to permit new mini hydel projects in the Western Ghats.

“The High Court had accepted this undertaking, leading to the cancellation of several proposed schemes. Any new approval, Kulkarni argued, would contradict this commitment and violate the State’s stated conservation policy,” said Mr. Kulkarni.